Oneil Cruz (OF-PIT) powered the Pirates to victory as he went 2-4 with a pair of homers and 4 RBI against the Mets. Naturally, he fanned in his two other at-bats, but the good news is that he didn't make any mind-boggling errors in the field. The toolsy 26 year-old is now hitting just .210 with 15 homers, 35 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 27 steals (in 30 attempts) across 321 PA on the year with a barely above-average wRC+ of 103. A 33.5% strikeout rate, 67% overall contact rate, and 76.5% in-zone contact rate are all pretty poor and indicate that a low average will just be a part of Cruz's game. He does tend to do some damage when he gets the bat on the ball, with a 57% hard-hit rate, 22% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 96 mph per Statcast. In all fairness, a .276 BABIP does seem unlucky given his ability to blister the ball and his .323 career BABIP, so Cruz's average should move toward his .240 career average as the season continues.
Xander Bogaerts (2B/SS-SD) had a productive day at the dish against the Reds as he went 3-4 with 2 2B and a solo blast. The 32 year-old is in the midst of another meh season with the Padres as he's hitting .251 with 5 dingers, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 13 steals (in 14 attempts) across 327 PA, with a slightly below-average wRC+ of 96. As usual, Bogaerts isn't fanning often (16%) while making plenty of contact (82% overall and 89% in zone), but quality of contact is just fine with a 38.5% strand rate, 5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90 mph. All that said, his .286 BABIP does seem a bit unlucky (.329) and his average should therefore rise a bit going forward, but the continued dip in the power department as his ISO is at just .111 after it was .117 last season and .154 the year before is problematic for fantasy. The good news is that he's on pace to set a career high in stolen bases.
Jack Leiter (SP-TEX) was sharp against the Mariners on Sunday as he allowed just 1 run on 7 hits and no walks while racking up 7 punchouts in 6 IP. The 25 year-old righty kept the ball in the yard as he fired 64 of his 88 pitches for strikes in the outing. Leiter now owns a 4.29 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 4 BB/9, and 4.75 xFIP through his first 71.1 IP (14 starts) of the 2025 campaign. Walks have been one of his biggest issues, so it was encouraging to see him issue no free passes on Sunday. Loud contact has been a bit of an issue this season as Statcast shows a 42.5% hard-hit rate, 11.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 91 mph. A 9.5% swinging-strike rate is certainly underwhelming as Leiter has surrendered a 79.5% overall contact rate and 87% in-zone contact rate. Overall, those aren't some inspiring peripherals. The good news is that his next scheduled opponent, the Padres, rank #19 in MLB with a team OPS of .712 versus RHP.
Matthew Liberatore (SP-STL) earned the W against Cleveland on Sunday as he tossed 6 shutout IP in which he scattered 3 hits and 5 walks while recording 5 punchouts on 96 pitches (58 strikes). The 25 year-old southpaw now owns a 3.70 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, and 3.73 xFIP through 92.1 IP (16 starts) on the year. Sunday's outing aside, Liberatore's control has been better in 2025 than in the past (2.8 career BB/9). Otherwise, there's not a lot to be excited about in his profile as his swinging-strike rate is still meh (10.5%) and he surrenders plenty of contact (79.5% overall and 90% in zone) while a lot of that contact is loud (Statcast shows a 45% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 91.5 mph). Especially with a tough start against the Cubs (#7 in MLB with a team OPS of .751 versus LHP), I'd try to deal Liberatore in fantasy.
Walker Buehler (SP-BOS) lasted just 4 IP against the Blue Jays on Sunday as he surrendered 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. The 30 year-old righty coughed up a pair of solo shots while throwing 42 of his 72 offerings for strikes in the outing. Buehler has largely struggled in his first season in Boston as he now owns a 6.45 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, and 4.68 xFIP across 67 IP (14 starts). The longball has been an issue (2 HR/9 and 21% HR/FB), which helps to explain his low 69% strand rate. Interestingly, his Statcast profile isn't awful with a 38.5% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 87.5 mph. So, the homer issues seem to be partly a result of poor luck given the relative lack of loud contact. But Buehler hasn't helped himself with the poor control and inability to miss bats (8% swinging-strike rate). He shouldn't be started in fantasy at this point, but a favorable matchup against the Nationals lies ahead; the Washington lineup ranks 22nd in MLB with a team OPS of .708 against RHP.
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